Link to protocols

D/W beat V/M on PCS, which means the judges still think highly of them. V/M used to beat them on PCS and GOE in the past, now, it's probably just GOE.
The other not so surprising result is C/B beating S/S in both TES and PCS. C/B established themselves as US #2, probably until D/W retire, then they will be US #1.
Look how long it took the likes to B/S and I/K and C/L to crack 65. C/B did in a short time together. They will be on the W podium soon. Probably will surpass one of the Russian and C/L next year.

I got a strange feeling that D/W's season is about to take the same turn it took last season, and I really hope I'm wrong about that.

I was thinking about the same thing. But I watched the protocol and it seems D/W had low GOE for their standard on the not touching steps which probably means it wasn't as sharp as usual(mostly 1 and some 2 but no 3) while V/M not only got a level 4 but also huge GOE on steps. Not to mention D/W got higher PCS

Chock and Bates are perhaps either the luckiest team in the world or I am missing something. Good but I could still see how the Shibs could be ahead of them. It's like after nats and all of a sudden they are superstars forget B and K, C and L or I and K. heck goodbye W and P its like someone just said no matter what bow down to C and b. I just don't get it. I am not a big fan of the SD of V and M but I would have had them higher than D and w. I think actually the TES are about right but pcs should have gone to V and M; Charlie and Meryl will be favoured in the long I think unless V and m got their levels fixed and lifts.

Well interestingly enough D/W won in the pattern dance -- D/W got level 4 on both and V/M got level 4 and level 3. But Davis and White got docked down to level 3 in the no-touch step sequence while V/M got level 4. That led to a .50 difference in BV in favor of V/M

V/M also won GOE by a hair: 6.50 for them, 6.36 for D/W.

D/W won PCS by .20. D/W won in skating skills, transitions, choreography. V/M won in performance and interpretation/timing.

C/B won due to the strength of their levels--They got level 4/3 on their pattern and level 4 on two other elmements.

Shibs got a level 2 in pattern dance, ouch! They got the same level as C/B on everything else. Still that polka pattern cost them one point in BV versus C/B. C/B gained some extra traction on GOE 4.29 vs 3.57.

In PCS, C/B + Shibs were tied in skating skills, Shibs won in linking footwork, C/B won in everything else.

G/P did good on the pattern only to get a level 2 in the step sequence. They will likely stay in the top 5 here.

Interesting to compare the Reeds and O/W. O/W beat the Reeds at NHK previously. The Reeds won on levels...their BV is 3.50 points higher. But O/W got more GOE (2.79 vs 1.29 for the Reeds). O/W also won in PCS.

Oh, there's definite improvement in Tessa's and Scott's SD -- had to be since they're competing against Meryl's and Charlie's great execution of their gorgeous SD all season. I just think Tessa and Scott were over-scored for their program. Not much separates these two teams.

There did seem to be something going on when M&C came off the ice and Marina was talking to Charlie. Still, with this great program, M&C, IMO deserved a bit higher overall, but not by much. I think 75+ is way high for what Tessa and Scott did. When two top teams are this close in ability, a lot of times it's a tough call. I think Meryl and Charlie have the better programs this year and Tessa and Scott have been tweaking a lot to catch up. Last year was total politics that M&C didn't win Worlds.

I think D and W like last year were better but V and M really have closed the gap. I think D and W have the better programme in SD but V and M have the better FD. I still find D and W have not really grown as artists but you don't get bonuses or deductons for that.

D/W beat V/M on PCS, which means the judges still think highly of them. V/M used to beat them on PCS and GOE in the past, now, it's probably just GOE.
The other not so surprising result is C/B beating S/S in both TES and PCS. C/B established themselves as US #2, probably until D/W retire, then they will be US #1.
Look how long it took the likes to B/S and I/K and C/L to crack 65. C/B did in a short time together. They will be on the W podium soon. Probably will surpass one of the Russian and C/L next year.

So I guess the Worlds bronze medal the Shibs got in their DEBUT senior season doesn't count for anything? And they scored 66+ in the SD at that particular competition, so, in essence the Shibs took less time to get to 65+ than C/B.

And they got 65+ last season at GPF.

And they're not that far from 65 this season. Less than 2 points.

ETA: On a more serious note, I do feel that for whatever reason the Shibs do seem undertrained this year. They are doing well enough this season, but I still don't think they're at 100 percent. They did a much better job here then they've had all season, so I hope they can build on that for Worlds.